Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-07-26
fCopyriEhi. issi. byAiwoOd a fofbes.l
THE GOOD OLD TIMES OF A
CENTURY AGO.
By JuDoK G. Y. WHITMAN.
Chapter XTIH.
CAapier XrIH

Chapter AVIH.
THE cuRisrnAs on rIIE rTAyER FAMILY.
The wind changed TO the southeast
and q warm rain storm came on, and
one nigh, while thick fos covered the
face Of nature. Samuel was surprised to
hear the Cabling ofgeese In the vicinity.
A flock Of these wild fowls. perhaps from
being fred into by some sportsman. OF
from flying against some obstacles. In
the fox. had become separated and lost
i,s way aud was now In the clearing.
lie had been considering for some days.
wha, he should provide in the shape OF
fowl for the Christmas dinner, aud had
come TO the conclusion, ,hA, brace OF
pai,fidgss would have TO answer. Here
now was bis opportunity. Awaking
Tommy they armed themselves with
club. and wen, forth TO the slaughter.
Stealing softly into the midst OF the
aoek. they succeeded in killing three be-
fore the other. could ge, Ou, Of their
reach.
The weather having cleared with =
cold wind blowing from the northwest.
the damp snow became frcsen. making a
hard crust. and Samuel wen, TO the set
,lemen, on the N,Iinsco, for milk aud
other articles 10 be used in cooking their
dinner Tor the morrow. which Was Christ
mas. and be returned With sufficient,
supply. ~.
"Hsng your stocking. up tonight"
be said TO the children as the family was
seated around the supper table. "Ssin,
Nichols. will drive his reindeer team.
,hi. way before daylight. and II your
stocking, are no, hung up. he will pass
nigh, by and leave you nothing"
"wko |, Saint Nicholas" asked Grace,
The children had never received any
present.. a. Christmas. and she had not
heard of such being before. Ba, Tom
my bal. while living a, Falmouth. but
As they resided in an oai of the way
place and had mingled very little With
other children in their festivities. he had
bu, vague idea Of i,s true significance.
Hes the ehildrn's God" answered
Tommy. Awful bOoseii,h, but with
lots Of toy. And candies which he earris'
under hi. great coat, and stuffed into bis
pockets. Sometime. they ATE 20 full he
hA. 10 take them oa, 10 slide down the
ehimneys. When be gets started be
goes faster than the wind. aud there are
lot. Of place. where he never stops. lie
don, 10 round ia the wilderness
much COS IL !. bad getting along. and
be don, 10 among poor ragged children
COS they look 50 bad lie never comes
here and don', believe he will II We
hang 40 forty stockings"
Mrs. Thsyer and Samuel laughed.
"why Won, hel" the latter asked.
o. co. we Amt good enough. for
him TO come here. we ate too poor aud
ragged"
A, ,hi, remark the mother looked
grave and tears stole in,o her eyes a, the
thought Of their poverty. and how the
children Of the rich Jared.
"Ye,h he'll tome ihi,h ,ime." li.Ped
little Tot. "Mi,her Taylor ,heih he
will"
ale will come ihi, time sure. and you
had better &c, your stockings ready he
said.
Mrs Thayer looked up in some sur.
Prise at bis remark. for I. yet. she had
no, been le, into the secret. She said
nothing. prefering 10 wAi, and see what
was done. though her curiosity va,
greatly excited. The efforts be had
been making TO have q Christmas dinner
and several inquiries he had made led
hsr to think ,ha, there were presents OF
some kind in store for them.
The real slin, Nicholas came some
time ago" said Tommy. "iou are our
Sain, NieholA. for you brough, US pres
en,. and We dOn't have to 20 hunsry
now
"Mr. Taylor isn't any Saint Nicholas.
he. a mao, that's whA, he i', said
Grace.
"And a mighty good one he is too"
replied Tommy.
"Nevsr mind about me. said Samuel.
"bu, le, Us g,t ready for Christmas.
"wha, shall we dos" inquired Tom.
my.
"ln the frs, place let Us pareh some
corn aud make some eorn.ball'," he
answered.
Good good !" cried the children I.
they ran for the corn.
They were now all animated aud eS.
cited with the thought Of the morrow.
and in the anticipation Of whs, might be
in store for them. While the eorn-balls
were being made. numerous que,,ions
were asked abou, Sain, Nicholas ths,
could no, be answered wi,hou, spelling
the ehildpn's interest. The mother too,
entered into the spiri, Of the matter.
though she expected bu, few presents
Of the ruder kind for her children. ye,
these even she thought would be great
uea, for them, since they were unseeu'-
toned to such things.
"whA, DO we need Of Saint Nicholas
anyway" said Tommy after the corn.
halls had been made and set away to
cool
80, he'll bring US something nice
exclaimed Grace. 81 wan, doll
I'll wan, pie,hur book said Tot.
"Ah. don, you see Tommy that there
is really . need Of Saint Nicholas,
Samuel asked.
"well, II he'll bring such things as
that / s'po.e there is, but don't believe
he WILL" answered Tommy.
Lets see," said Samuel TO AIRS.
ThAyer, changing the subject. "iour
fathers name was Peter Brown, OF
Charles,own. was it moi, ?"
"Yes, that was his name she answer
ed.
"And your sisters"
"Her name Is Elizabeth ba, every
body call her Betty"
"where does she live p
81 do not know. After the estate
Was settled she went away and never
heard from her Afterward."
"There Is person living in our town
who Il called Aunt Betty, but never